Sparking device.



T. H.l MUQUQWN. SPARKING DBvIo'E.

APPLIUATIONVFILED JULY 28, 1906. 950,339. Patented-Feb. 22', 1910.

ZSHEETB-SHBET 1.

C, 44444797( rlwwmmwy emrlammy @M (Q7/@ T. H. MGQUOWN.

SPARKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1905.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNiTED STATES Parana Serien.

THOMAS H. MCQUOWN, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS-SIGNMENTS, T0 ARTHUR A'IWATER KENT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPARKING DEVICE.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

Application filed July 28, 1905. Serial No. 271,583.

vTo all whom it may concern:

Be itl known that I, THOMAS H. Mc'- QUowN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cambridge, county of Middlesex, and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in .Sparking Devices, otwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

rIhis inventionrelates to an electric make and break device, and amongthe objects of the invention are to provide a device of this characterin which the contacts are separated the instant,that they are broughttogether, and are therefore in contact a minimum length of timeregardless of the speed at which the device is operated, and also toprovide a novel arran 'ement by which the closing and opening o thecontacts may be made to make and break any one of a plurality ofcircuits.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a'timer anddistributer adapted for use in connection with gas or gasolene engines,but I wish it understood that my invention is notl limited to use inconnection with a device of this character but may be employed. in othermachines where it is desiral'ilctoi;4 make andbreak an electricalcontact. The ymake andv break device comprises two contacts, (which I-will desi nate as the stationary and the movab e contact respectively,)means tending normally to accelerate the movement of the movable contacttoward the stationary contact, and a restraining device to restrain 'orretard the movement of thel movablecontact until it is about to engagethe stationary contact, whereby when the restraining device ceases tooperate the movable contact wipes over or by the stationary contact withan accelerated movement, thereby opening the contacts the instant theyare closed.

The device also comprises a suitable circuit controller 0r distributerby means of which the contacts are thrown into any one ot a number ofdifferent circuits.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my improved device with the coverof the casing removed, said view also showinglthe electrxcalconnections; Fig. 2 is a section of the casing on the line zax, Fig. 8;Fig. 3 is a section on the line y-y, Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a section on theline ca -a, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section on the line b--Z), Fig. 3; Fig.6 is a detail of the brush of the circuit controller or distributer.

B'and Ll designate the two contacts which are closed and opened again bya relative movement between them. The contact 3 is relativelystationary, and for convenience I will hereinafter refer to it as the,stationary contact. It iS preferably mounted upon a resilientarm 5which is supported in any suitable way, as for instance by being Securedto one wall of the casing 6 within which theA movable parts of thedevice are located. The contact 4, which I have termed for conveniencethe movable Contact, is adapted to move toward and from the StationaryContact and in its movement to engage said stationary contact. In thepresent embodiment of my invention said contact t is carried by a plateor disk 7 rotatably to engage the stationary contact 3 when saidrestraining means becomes inoperative and the plate rotates forward witha quick accelerated movement, thereby causing the contact 4 to Wipe pastthe stationary contact 3.

In the embodiment of the invention herein' illustratedthe plate or disk7 is driven from a gear wheel or pinion 9 loosely mounted on the stud 8,the driving connection between the pinion and disk being a spring 10which is connected at one end to a pin 11 projecting from the disk 7 andat the other end lto a pin 12 carried by the pinion 9, said pin 12extending through a slot or opening 13a in the plate 7. With thisconstruction the plate and pin may move 'independently of each otherabout the stud pinion Will wind the spring 10 up so that when the plate7 is released the spring will act to impel said plate forward With arapid movement, thereby closing and instantly opening the contacts.

The pinion 9 may be driven in any suitable Way. As herein shown it isdriven from a pinion 13 mounted on a spindle or distributer shaft 14which forms in effect a continuation or extension of a shaft 15. Thisshaft l5 may be any suitable shaft on or forming part of the machineWith which the device is to be used, as for instance the crank-shaft ofa gasoline engine. Said shaft has therefore a regular forward movementand through the pinion 13 it gives such regular movement to the drivenpinion 9. I prefer to insulate the spindle 14 from the shaft 15,although this is not essential to my invention. As herein shown howeverthe end of the shaft 15 has fast thereon a sleeve 16 provided With aprojection 17, and said rojection 17 has a sleeve or covering 18 ofpinsulating material. Fast on the insulated extension or projection .17is the hub 19 of the spindle 14. This hub 19 is shown as rotatablymounted in' a bearing sleeve 20 carriedby a hub or boss 21 Which formsthe bearing for the extension of the shaft 15. The gear 13 may be eitherfast to the spindle 14v or it may be driven from the spindle by a paWland ratchet connection. I prefer the latter construction because thispermits a backward motion of the shaft 15 without moving the arts of thesparking device. The paWl an ratchet connection is formed by a springpressed pawl 22 pivotally mounted on an extension 23 of the hub of thegear 13 and adapted to engage a ratchet tooth 2l formed in a collar 25fast on the spindle 14.

The restraining device or the means for restraining the acceleratedmovement of the plate 7 is herein shown as a tooth or teeth 26 formed onor carried bythe plate 7 and cooperating with a tooth or teeth 27rotating with the spindle 14. Itor convenience I propose to make theteeth 27 rigid with the hub of the pinion 13 although this constructionis not essential. rIhe teeth 26 and 27 are so arranged and shaped thatthe tooth 27 is engaged by the tooth 26 and restrains ori retards themovement ofthe plate '7 relative to the pinion 9 as the contact i isappreaching the contact 3, and during this inl terval therefore thepinion 9 moves ahead of the plate 7 and winds up the spring 10. g Whenthe teeth 26 and 27 come into the doti ted line position' Itig. 2 thecontact t is just E about to engage the contact 3, and said teeth are soshaped 'that at this instant the tooth 26 slips by the tooth 27 thusallowing the spring 10 to come into action to give the plate anaccelerated movement and cause the contact et to Wipe past the contact3.

It is entirely Within my invention to use only one movable contact 4, inwhich case only one tooth 26 and one tooth 27 would be necessary.IVhere, however, my invention is to be used for making and breaking insuccession a plurality of circuits I prefer to use a plurality ofcontacts 4, as many contacts as there are circuits.

The present embodiment of my invention is adapted to make and break fivedifferent circuits, and, therefore, I have illustrated tive contacts 4which are carried by the plate 7, and are adapted one after the other toengage the stationary Contact 3. `Where tive movable contacts 1 are usedI propose to employ five restraining teeth 26 and ve teeth 27. Thenumber of teeth 26 and 27 however depends upon the particular machinewith which my invention is to be used. Where there are a plurality ofteeth 26 and 27, as there are in this embodiment of my invention, itwill be evident that when one tooth 2C is in engagement with thecorresponding tooth 27, as shown in Fig. 2, the movement of the plate 7will be retarded relative to that of the pinion 9 until said teeth 26and 27 have reached the dotted line position. Fig. 2, at which time oneof the movable contacts 1 is about to engage the stationary contact 3.During this time when the movement of the plate 7 has been retarded thespring 10 has been Wound up by the forward movement of the pinion and asthe tooth 26 slips by the corresponding tooth 27 the spring gives theplate and movable con tact f1 an accelerated forward movement, causingthe contact -1 to Wi e over the stationary contact 3. Imme iately thatthe contact 4 has separated from the stationary contact 3 thisaccelerated movement is arrested by the next tooth 26 coming intoengagement with the corresponding tooth 2T. and the above describedoperations are re peated. It will thus be seen that the plate 7 carryingthe movable contact or contactsl is alternately restrained in itsmovement and then accelerated, the acceleration taking place just whenthe contacts are about to engage each other. This action takes placeregardless of the speed at which the shaft 15 or the pinion 9 .isrotated, and therefore even though said parts are moving very slowly yetit will be impossible for the contacts 3 and 4t to remain in contactmore than the minimum length ef time. I regard this as an importantfeature of my invention. because by means of it the life of the bat--tery or other source of electricityI may be greatly increased.

As above stated the invention, is herein t illustrated as embedied in atimer and disaoA f .insulated from each other, and a brush or of thewires of the circuit 3T.

nected with the circuit 37', and the contacttributer for gas andgasolene engines, which distributer is used in connection wit-h an inlduction coil in a well known way.

In Fig. 1, 30 designates the primary windl ings of' a coil, and 31 thesecondary windings. This primary winding is connected to the stationaryand movable contacts 3 and 4, the`connection with the movable coiitactbeing made through wire 33 which connects to the casing 6, said easingbeing electrically connected with the movable contact 4, and' theconnection with the stationary contact being made through a wire 34which leads to av binding post carried by but insulated from the casing,said binding post being connected to the stationary contact 3.

36 designates a battery or other generator in the circuit of the primarycoil 30. The circuit 37 of the secondary coil leads to the distributer,presently to be described, which distributer connects said circuit withthe various circuits 38, each of which includes a sparking plug showndiagrammaticallyl at 39. In practice each of the circuits 38 will beconnected to the frame of the engine i which is shown diagrainmaticallyin Fig. 1

'at 40, said engine-frame being connected with the circuit 37. Thedistributcr is arranged to connect the various circuits 38; successivelywith the circuit 37. Said' distributer comprises a ring 41 which issustained by the casing 6 but insulated therefrom by an insulating block42, a plurality of contact-pieces 43 which are also carried by theinsulatingblock 4Q and are wiper 44 which isin constant engagement withthe ring 41 and is adapted to inovey over and engage successively thecontactpieces 43.

The ring 41 is electricallyv con-.

pieces 43 are connected with the various circuits 38. g

45 designates ay binding post insulated l from the casing 6 andconnected to the ring 4l. said, binding .post being connected to one'Each contact-piece 43 is connected to a binding post 46 which extendsthrough the casing and is insulated therefrom. said binding .post 46being connected to the wires of the various circuits 38.

lThe brush 44 comprises a .head or block I 47' of insulating materialwhich carries a metallic facing. that contacts with the ring 41 and thepieces .43. is herein shown as being pivotally lmounted i upon an arni48 which inturn is pivotcd i to a collar 49 fast with the spindle 14.Said brush is normally held againstthe ring 41 and the contact-pieces43'hy means of al suitable spi-ing 50 which tends normally to that solong as the circuit of .the

justably secured to a bracket 52.

iwhich has some advantages.

throw said arm outwardly. The contactpieces 43 are so situated and thespeed of rotation of the brush is such relative to the speed ot'rotation of plate 7 that the brush f engages one contact-piece at thetime when 'fthe corresponding movable contact 4 cngages the stationaryContact 3. rlihe rotation of the plate T and contacts 4 operates to makeand break the circuit of the pri- ,mary winding, and obviously thisresults in the making and breaking of the circuit of the secondarywinding. YThe latter cirsive contacts 4 engage the stationary contact 3,the various circuits 38 will be made and broken successively, as will beobvious.

I prefer to use as many movable contacts 4 as there are circuits 38, yetthis is not essential to my invention, for it will be obvious rimarywinding is made and broken at the time that the circuitV of thesecondary winding is completed through any one of the circuits 38,

the sparking plug in said latter circuitwill be operated, and byproportioning the gearing between the spindle 14 and the pinion t), themake and break device may beinade with one or any other number ofcontacts 4. v The entire casing 6 may be swung about the sleeve 19 as anaxis, and is held in any adjusted position by means of an arm `51 rigidwith the casing and adapted to be ad- By thus turning the casingslightly with reference to the shaft 15, thc pointl in the cycle ofoperations of the gas engine at which the :l sparking plug is operatedmay be adjusted.

T lie current generated in the secondary 31 of the sparking coil isusually one having comparatively high tension.

I have found that by insulating the distribiiter and sparking devicefrom the shaft 15 by thelsleeve of insulating material 18, as

l shown in Fig. it is possible to make the operative pai-ts of thedistributer and sparking device. of less size than where such 1nzsulation is not employed.

The casing which incloses the operative parts of in v device has a novelconstruction Said casing comprises a back 53 on which all-the operaitive parts are supported except thc block 42 h g of insulating materialand the ring and seg- Said head or block l' ments carried thereby. abody or side portion 54. and a front plate or cap 55. The back isprovided with the flanges 56 into which the side portion 54 sets, andthe cap is also provided with anges 57 which set over the side portion.The cap is secured in place by a'retainer 58 which screws over the endof the stud '8, see Fig. 3, said screw and stud operating to hold thethree parts of the casing together. The entire casing is steadied bymeans of the projecting end 59 of the spindle 14 which enters a suitablesocket 6() in the cap. By means of this construction the ca can bereadily removed simply by removing the retainer 58 thus opening thecasing for inspection, and when the cap 55 has been removed the sides 54carrying the rings and segments can be removed thus giving access to allthe other operative parts of the device.

Various changes in the construction of the parts of the device may bemade without departing from the invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, a stationarycontact, a rotary member carrying a movable contactwliicli is adapted toengage the stationary contact as said member rotates, means tendingconstantly to rotate said member forward with an accelerated motion, anda rotary restraining device to restrain the movement of said memberuntil the movable contactl is about to engage the stationary contact,said restraining device releasing said member just prior to the timewhen the movable contact engages the stationary contact whereby themovable contact is acceler-A ated in its movement as it engages thestationary contact. y

2. In a device of the class described, a stationary contact, a membercarrying a movable contact which is adapted to engage the stationarycontact as said member rotates, a rotating driver imparting acontinuously rotary movement to said member, a yielding connectionbetween the driver and said member, and means to retard the forwardmovement of said member until the movable contact is about to engage thestationary contact, said means releasing said member just prior to thetime when the movable contact engages the stationary contact.

3. In a device of the class described, a stationary yieldable contact, amember carrying a movable contact adapted to engage the stationarycontact, a rotary driver imparting to said member acontinuous movementoi rotation, a spring connecting the driver and member, means to retardthe rotary movement of the member and thereby store up energy in saidspringI until said movable member 1s about to engage the fixed contact.

4. In a device of the class described, a

stationary contact, a rotary member carrying a movable contact, a pinionfor continuously rotating said member, a spring connection between thepinion and the member and rotary means to intermittently retard themovement of said member and to then release said member to allow it tomove at an accelerated speed, said contacts being momentarily closedduring the accelerated movement of said member.

5. In a device of the class described, a stat'onary contact, a membercarrying a mova le contact, a pinion for continuously rotating saidmember, a spring connection between lthe pinion and the member, andmeans to retard the movement of the member until the movable contact isabout to engage the fixed contact and to then release said member tocause said contacts to momentarily envage.

G. In a device of the class described, a stationary contact, a pluralityof movable contacts adapted to engage the stationary contactsuccessively, means tending to move said movable contacts toward thestationary contact with an accelerated motion, and means to retard themovement of each movable contact as it approaches the stationary contactand until it 1s about to engage said stationary contact.

7. In a device of the class desctribed, a stationary contact, aplurality of movable contacts adapted to engage the stationary contactat different times, a rotating driver for giving the movable contactsa'continuous movement, a yielding connection between the driver and saidcontacts, and means to retard the movement of leach contact relative tothe driver while it is approaching the stationary contact and until itis about to engage said contact. f

8. In a device of the class described, a stationary contact, a membercarrying a plurality of movable contacts, a pinion for continuouslyrotating said member, and a spring connection between the pinion andmember, and a constantly rotating member to intermittently retard therotary movement of said first mentioned member.

9.v In a device of the class described, a stationary Contact, a membercarrying a plurality ot movable contacts, a pinion for contmuouslyrotatmg said member, a spring '-Lconnection between the pinion andmember, zand means to retard the movement of the l1. In` a device of theclass described a disan accelerated movement to said make and tributershaft, a make 'and break device break device when released, tomomentarily driven directly from said shaft, and a rotatclose and breaka circuit. ing device mounted on said distrbuter shaft In testimonywhereof I have signed my 5 and coperating with said make and break nameto this specification in the presence of 1L device to intermittentiretard the speed of two subscribing Witnesses. f said make and breakevice before the clo- THOMAS H. MCQUOWN.

sure of the circuit therethrough, and to re- Witnesses: lease the sameimmediatel prior to the said -LOUIs C. SMITH, 1o closure of saidcircuit, an

means to impart BERTHA F. HEUSER.

